Sex Disparities in Risk of Mortality Among Children With ESRD

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Administration of kainic acid and colchicine alters mu and lambda opiate binding in rat hippocampus

Quantitative in vitro autoradiography was used to assess the effects of kainic acid (KA) and colchicine (COL) on mu and lambda opiate binding in the rat hippocampus. Rats were treated with either systemic KA, a neurotoxin that damages CA3 pyramidal cells and causes seizures and wet-dog shakes, or intrahippocampal COL to destroy dentate granule cells and their mossy fibers, or both toxins. Moderate levels of mu binding were detected in the pyramidal layer and in the stratum lacunosum-moleculare; binding was greater in the ventral hippocampus. Levels of mu binding were markedly increased in all regions 48 h after treatment with KA. Two weeks after COL treatment, there was a modest decrease in mu binding; COL plus KA gave results similar to COL alone. Dense lambda binding was present over the mossy fibers in the stratum lucidum, but was absent over the pyramidal layer. In contrast to mu binding, lambda binding was greater in the dorsal hippocampus. KA alone had little effect on lambda binding, whereas COL alone caused large decreases. KA plus COL caused even larger decreases in lambda binding, to as much as 85% below control. These results demonstrate that mu and lambda binding are localized to different parts of the hippocampus, respond differently to neurotoxin lesions, and likely serve different roles in this brain region. The number of mu sites is responsive to the release of enkephalin; these receptors appear to be linked to opiate-induced hippocampal seizure activity, especially wet-dog shakes. Lambda sites may serve as autoreceptors on mossy fibers.     

Divided attention, as measured by dichotic speech performance, in dementia of the Alzheimer type

To determine if impaired dichotic performance in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type is due to the inability to divide attention or the inability to perceive degraded auditory stimuli, we measured performance on tasks of both dichotic and degraded monotic speech materials. We also examined whether perception of degraded speech stimuli presented monaurally is related to abnormalities of temporal lobe anatomy and physiology, as we have shown for dichotic performance. Although the patients were impaired on both dichotic and monotic tests, significantly greater impairment was seen on the dichotic test. Our earlier finding of a significant relation between dichotic performance and measures of anterior temporal lobe atrophy and reduced glucose metabolism was replicated, but no significant relation was found between monotic tests and measures to temporal lobe integrity. We conclude that the inability to divide attention, rather than abnormal processing of degraded stimuli per se, is reflected in poor dichotic performance in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type, and that dichotic performance, unlike degraded monotic perception, depends directly on the integrity of temporal cortex in these patients.     

Demonstration of the beta 2-adrenoceptor intrinsic efficacy of AY-28,925 using the PGF2 alpha-contracted guinea-pig trachea

The abilities of AY-28,925, labetalol and medroxalol to relax the PGF2 alpha-contracted isolated guinea-pig trachea have been investigated to compare their activities at beta 2-adrenoceptors. Maximum relaxation induced by AY-28,925 was significantly greater than that induced by either labetalol or medroxalol. This relaxation occurred in a concentration-dependent manner over a range of concentrations consistent with the previously determined affinity of AY-28,925 for beta-adrenoceptors. ICI-118,551 inhibited AY-28,925-induced relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner with a pA2 value similar to that determined for ICI-118,551 inhibition of the selective beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol, but not the selective beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist norepinephrine. The Schild plot slope for ICI-118,551 inhibition of AY-28,925 or salbutamol did not differ significantly from unity, while that for inhibition of isoproterenol (a non-selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist) did. It is concluded that AY-28,925 is a more efficacious relaxant of tracheal smooth muscle than either labetalol or medroxalol, and that this relaxant activity is the result of its greater intrinsic efficacy at the beta 2-adrenoceptor.     

Luteal phase deficiency: effect of treatment on pregnancy rates.

Luteal phase deficiency is thought to be a cause of female infertility. Nevertheless, little agreement exists concerning either its diagnosis or its treatment. To address the latter question, we reviewed the English literature and examined the effect of treatment on pregnancy rates. One randomized controlled trial found a statistically insignificant benefit of treatment with progesterone suppositories or oral dehydroprogesterone versus no treatment (relative risk 1.9; 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 8.1). Three other comparative studies also showed no statistically significant benefit. Case-series reports (before-after studies) claiming benefit failed to account for the effect of regression to the mean. The benefit of treatment for luteal phase deficiency has not been established. Uniform case definitions and randomized controlled trials of adequate power are needed to resolve this problem.     

Characterization of antibody and selection of alternative drug therapy in hydrochlorothiazide-induced immune hemolytic anemia

The authors report the clinical and laboratory findings of a patient who had severe immune hemolytic anemia due to hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). In this case, the HCTZ antibody reacted not only with other thiazide and thiazide-like drugs, but also with a chemically unrelated diuretic, ethacrynic acid. These results indicate that HCTZ antibody activity is not restricted solely to the thiazides and imply that therapy with any of the reactive drugs would be contraindicated for this patient. The serologic screening for drug reactivity may be useful for selecting alternative therapy for patients with drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia.     

Comparison of DNA adducts and sister chromatid exchange in lung cancer cases and controls

In a molecular epidemiological study of lung cancer cases (n = 81) and noncancer controls (n = 67), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adducts were evaluated in peripheral blood leukocytes from all subjects and in a smaller number of lung tissue specimens collected prior to or at surgery. Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in lymphocytes were also studied in a subset of cases and controls. Questionnaire, medical record, or tumor registry data provided a family history of cancer, as well as information on cigarette smoking, dietary and occupational exposure to PAHs, and other factors related to SCEs. In both cases and controls PAH-DNA adducts in leukocytes measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were not significantly related to age, sex, ethnicity, amount of cigarette smoking, passive smoking, dietary charcoal, or caffeine consumption. Nor did family history of cancer or histological type of cancer significantly affect adduct levels. However, when subjects were stratified by smoking status (current, former, and nonsmoker), lung cancer cases who were current smokers had significantly higher levels of covalent adducts than current smoker controls. A seasonal variation was observed in PAH-DNA binding, with a peak in adduct levels during July-October. This peak corresponds to that seen in a prior study of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase inducibility by other investigators. The finding of significant levels of PAH-DNA adducts in former smokers and non-smokers supports an earlier observation that this marker is not smoking specific but reflects a pervasive and variable "background" exposure to PAH. These results are consistent with a genetically determined enhancement of PAH-DNA adduct formation in leukocytes of lung cancer cases which is evident in current smokers. The results in lung tissue are limited by the small number of samples. Adduct levels were not significantly increased in lung tissue of smokers compared with nonsmokers. An inverse linear correlation was seen between adduct values in lung tissue and age of the donors. SCEs were significantly related to pack years of smoking. However, there was no difference in the frequency of SCE between cases and controls; nor were SCE and DNA adducts significantly correlated in this small sample.     

Influence of nanoporous alumina membranes on long-term osteoblast response

A major goal of bone tissue engineering is to design better scaffold configuration and materials to better control osteoblast behavior. Nanoporous architecture has been shown to significantly affect cellular response. In this work, nanoporous alumina membranes were fabricated by a two-step anodization method to investigate bone cell response. Osteoblasts were seeded on nanoporous alumina membranes to investigate both short-term adhesion and proliferation and long-term functionality and matrix production. Cell adhesion and proliferation were characterized using a standard MTT assay and cell counting. The total protein content was measured after cell lysis using the BCA assay. Matrix production was characterized in terms of surface concentrations of calcium and phosphorous, components of bone matrix, using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results from nanoporous alumina membranes were compared with those of amorphous alumina, aluminum, commercially available ANOPORE and glass. Results indicate improved osteoblast adhesion and proliferation and increased matrix production after 4 weeks of study.     

Emotionally disturbed children's reactions to violent media segments

This study examined the reaction of children with a diagnosed disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) to violent movie scenes. Children without one of these disorders were tested as well. DBD children ranged in age from 8 to 12 years and were outpatients at The University of Kansas Medical Center's Department of Child Psychiatry. These children were diagnosed by a child psychiatrist as meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) (American Psychiatric Association 1994) (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for having at least one of three emotional disorders: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD). Results showed that the disordered children differed from the nondisordered children on several dimensions. This suggests that DBD children process the anti-social messages in violent movies differently from children without a psychiatric disorder. An unabated diet of antisocial media could have harmful effects on children with a psychiatric illness.     

Iron uptake by cultured lens epithelial cells

Background: Transferrin and Fe concentrations increase in the intraocular fluids in pathological conditions and the lens accumulates Fe during ocular inflammation. Tissues take up Fe from transferrin by two mechanisms, receptor-medicated endocytosis of diferric transferrin and a process occurring at the cell membrane which may be mediated by an oxido-reductase. However, Fe metabolism, transport and storage have not been previously investigated in the lens. This study was designed to characterize the uptake of Fe from transferrin by lens epithelial cells in culture. Methods: Primary, secondary and tertiary cultures of canine lens epithelial cells and cultures obtained from cataractous lenses were studied. Uptake of ⁵⁹Fe from transferrin by these cultured cells was measured. Transferrin receptor populations were determined in receptor-binding assays. Results: There was a distinct relationship between the amount of Fe-transferrin added and the amount of Fe taken up, which was linear for the primary cultures but significantly reduced for the secondary, tertiary and cataract cultures (252±21, 169±14, 153±14 and 96±2 ng Fe/mg protein, respectively).Transferring receptor expression in lens cell cultures was reduced 10-fold within 2 days of addition of serum to cells grown in low-Fe, serum-free medium for 1 week. Conclusions: The reduction of Fe uptake by the subcultured and cataract cell lines probably reflects a decrease in transferrin receptor expression and in the activity of an alternative pathway for Fe transferrin uptake occurring over time. This reduced Fe uptake may result from long-term exposure to relatively high Fe concentration in the media. A reduction in the expression of the transferrin receptor after incubation with high concentrations of Fe supports this conclusion.